Ch.6060. The Lion King’s Birthday

The Lion King’s Birthday Celebration was held over a total of three days. The commemorative event, which began two days before the Lion King’s Birthday, was truly a festival for the people of the Empire.

While part of the appeal was that the normally inaccessible Demacia Academy was opened to the general public, one of the biggest attractions was the famous Lion King Parade held on the eve of the birthday celebration.

The Lion King Parade of Demacia Academy featured the top cadet who had achieved the overall championship in the competition trials taking on the role of the Lion King. This cadet would lead the procession like a triumphant conqueror, followed by other cadets marching in formation behind them.

Though it might sound like any ordinary parade in description, its scale and grandeur were enough to captivate people. Thanks to this, the Demacia Academy’s Lion King Parade had established itself as one of the Empire’s famous attractions.

Last year’s parade was conducted on an unprecedented scale because the person who took on the role of the Lion King was Seraphina, who was rumored to be the next heir to the imperial throne. Seraphina’s natural dignity matched perfectly with the Lion King role, earning her the evaluation of being the greatest Lion King in history.

For this reason, people expected Princess Seraphina to take on the Lion King role again this year. After all, no cadet surpassed her, and she had won the overall championship in this year’s competition trials as well.

However, people’s expectations were completely overturned. An official announcement stated that the protagonist of this year’s Lion King Parade would not be Seraphina. People naturally became curious about the person who had taken the Lion King role instead of Seraphina.

Some said it was the child of a high-ranking duke’s family, while others claimed it was the offspring of a prestigious marquis family.

Amid the ongoing debate, someone mentioned a name. A name no one had expected.

A man evaluated as the worst scoundrel since the founding of the Empire.

A man who exceptionally received a knighthood while still a cadet at the academy.

A man who single-handedly destroyed multiple Resistance giant mechs.

Gilbert Lion Hart.

The name of Gilbert, the eldest son of the Hart family and the so-called disgrace of Count Hart’s household, began to circulate.

Upon hearing his name, people objected. Although his recent actions had been groundbreaking, many who still couldn’t accept that he had changed believed he didn’t deserve such an honorable position.

Even those who had seen him in person unanimously acknowledged his skill in controlling giant mechs, but most remained skeptical about the change in his conduct. Therefore, the prevailing opinion was that someone else would take the position of this year’s Lion King.

Unfortunately, their predictions were wrong again. Marquis Lucas, the headmaster of Demacia Academy, officially announced that Gilbert would be this year’s Lion King.

People protested this radical announcement, but it came after the headmaster’s declaration. There were only a handful of people in the Empire who held positions high enough to directly challenge Headmaster Lucas. At most, only Princess Seraphina, who should have been the Lion King, could have objected, but even she remained silent.

In this situation, no one was bold enough to block Marquis Lucas’s decision, and people could only cast suspicious glances at Gilbert, who had become this year’s Lion King. They questioned whether he truly deserved such an honored position.

But they didn’t know that the very person who had been appointed as the Lion King absolutely detested taking on the role.

***

“Disciple. You don’t look pleased. What troubles you? Tell me.”

“Princess Seraph—”

“Ahem, ahem.”

“Was this your plan, Master?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. When you cut out all context from your words, even someone as intelligent as I cannot understand.”

Looking at Seraphina, who was feigning innocence before him, Gilbert felt an urge to give her a smack. Her unchanging expression and the smile in her eyes made it clear that this Lion King situation was definitely Seraphina’s doing.

No matter that she was a cadet at Demacia Academy, her status as a princess didn’t simply disappear. Moreover, wasn’t she known to be the closest to the line of imperial succession?

Not only that, but Marquis Lucas thought of Princess Seraphina almost like a granddaughter, so he rarely refused her requests. Thinking about it, she had sufficient justification to make changes, so there was nothing stopping her.

“Master, did you change the selection criteria for the Lion King?”

“While I’m pleased that you think so highly of me, I am still just a cadet at the academy. How could I do something so presumptuous?”

“You’re perfectly capable of it, aren’t you?”

Seeing her cheerful smile, as if she found the situation amusing, his suspicion turned to certainty and certainty to conviction. She must have been involved.

“Hehe. Disciple, even if that were the case, there’s nothing wrong with it. This is an excellent opportunity to take on the role of the Lion King in the parade, one of the Empire’s major events. Who wouldn’t want such an honor?”

She elegantly picked up the teacup in front of her and savored the aroma. Her red eyes, identical to Gilbert’s, sparkled like stars. She looked like a child who had just received an interesting toy.

“Even so, was it necessary to break tradition?”

“Hmm. The tea tastes good.”

“Master, you seem to be changing the subject.”

Gilbert frowned and spoke firmly. Normally, this could have been considered disrespectful enough to warrant punishment, but given his status as a cadet and the fact that he and Seraphina were from the same academy, it didn’t cross the line.

Even so, perhaps only her disciple could speak to her like this.

Seraphina took a sip of tea, enjoying the exquisite flavor that spread through her mouth. The tea, specially selected from the finest varieties supplied to the imperial family, was truly exceptional.

“Disciple, there is only one reason why I changed this long-standing tradition. It’s for the new students who will join us.”

“New students?”

“Yes. To give that honor to the winner of the first-year competition trials. Think about it. If we continue to select the overall champion of the competition trials, the same person might hold the title until they graduate from the academy. At least as long as I am at the academy, there would be no other Lion King.”

Gilbert nodded inwardly as he watched Seraphina savor her tea.

Indeed, even in Tactical Combat, if a user couldn’t defeat her with skill, she would never give up the Lion King position. Her pride wouldn’t allow it.

But now, for some reason, she had willingly relinquished that position. He tried to think of her motive, but there didn’t seem to be any benefit for her. Even the concern she mentioned earlier didn’t seem significant enough to warrant changing the rules.

“You still don’t look convinced.”

“It seems like you want me to be troubled.”

“Oh my. This is why I dislike perceptive disciples. It’s no fun if you figure it out so quickly.”

Seriously?

He had thought that without any benefit, her only purpose might be to tease him, but he didn’t expect it to be true. The Lion King Parade was considered the highlight of an important imperial festival, and it was hard to believe she would change the selection method just to tease her disciple.

Of course, amusement probably wasn’t the only reason for changing the selection method, but he couldn’t dismiss its significant influence. Looking at her expression of pure enjoyment, he couldn’t confidently deny it.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen my disciple so troubled. This alone makes my intention successful.”

“Master.”

“Don’t look at me like that. Surely you don’t think I changed it solely to tease you? Well, that wasn’t entirely absent from my intentions. But there was also a necessity for the change. The symbolic significance of the Lion King role in the parade is certainly not small. That’s why I wanted to select the Lion King from among the talented newcomers who enter the academy each year. Like the Lion King who continued his conquests without rest, I wanted to show that the academy’s talent never ceases.”

“So you wanted to emphasize the symbolism more?”

“Exactly. And along the way, I also had the intention of teasing you. I don’t do inefficient things. You know that well.”

Gilbert agreed as he watched Seraphina set down her teacup with grace. Seraphina in Tactical Combat was definitely someone who prioritized efficiency. Her imperial dignity made it difficult to even approach her for conversation.

Just being from the same academy lowered the hurdle a bit, but it was never as informal as it was now. This too, he thought, was another change that had occurred since becoming reality.

“In that sense, you must be this year’s Lion King. Despite only half a year having passed, your actions have left deeper footprints than any other cadet at the academy.”

“I guess… I have no choice.”

The academy attack incident would occur on the day of the Lion King’s Birthday. He had planned to scout the infiltrators’ routes beforehand, but all his plans had been disrupted.

No choice but to make it work.

If time was short, he would have to create it somehow. He resolved to make time while preparing for the parade.

“So I entrust this year’s Lion King role to you. Of course, I believe you will handle it splendidly without any issues.”

“I accept your command.”

“You’re always so formal about everything.”

As Gilbert watched Seraphina shake her head, he picked up his teacup. Though it had cooled a bit, the aroma still lingered pleasantly.